Help with firewood barn

[the village idiot]

We plan to mill the timber for cladding our new barn ourselves. Would it be total lunacy to use Ash?

 

We will have a substantial roof overhang and I have a lot of Ash available.

[Woodworks]

9 minutes ago, the village idiot said:

We plan to mill the timber for cladding our new barn ourselves. Would it be total lunacy to use Ash?

 

We will have a substantial roof overhang and I have a lot of Ash available.

I am always surprised how well ash holds up in the round. Beech and birch will be long gone before the ash is on the turn. Morris travellers used ash for all the coachwork and they didn't rot out in 5 mins. Sure its classed as non durable though 

Edited March 4, 2021 by Woodworks

[tree_beard]

Workshop walls, floorboards, worktops, shelves all out of lovely Ash...

 

External cladding, I would seek to get you committed for not trading a wagon load of ash for a wagon load of western red or larch.

[the village idiot]

2 minutes ago, tree_beard said:

Workshop walls, floorboards, worktops, shelves all out of lovely Ash...

 

External cladding, I would seek to get you committed for not trading a wagon load of ash for a wagon load of western red or larch.

It's an interesting idea. I wonder if anyone would be up for the trade?

[petercb]

I am always surprised how well ash holds up in the round. Beech and birch will be long gone before the ash is on the turn. Morris travellers used ash for all the coachwork and they didn't rot out in 5 mins. Sure its classed as non durable though 

Cills on my 1953 Riley RMF are Ash.

[topchippyles]

1 hour ago, the village idiot said:

We plan to mill the timber for cladding our new barn ourselves. Would it be total lunacy to use Ash?

 

We will have a substantial roof overhang and I have a lot of Ash available.

NO no no its total lunacy to even think it. Ash is simply not suitable for external cladding or any exterior uses unless its pressure and chemically treated. Douglas fir or larch and even western cedar are perfectly suited for your project.

[Khriss]

Would actually argee there yon chippy, Ash could be problematic with decay. But then its also whats to hand   😐  K

[ESS]

Lots of Ash spoked cart wheels that have been around longer than treated softwood fences i know of.

[Guest Gimlet]

The roof timbers in my (thatched) house are ash poles. They're the best part of 200 years old and some still have the remains of leaves on them. No rot but I have sprayed for woodworm. 

The house is on the market so if they can last another six months it would be nice.

[AHPP]

Lots of Ash spoked cart wheels that have been around longer than treated softwood fences i know of.

That’s not comparing apples with apples. The wheels are specialist and expensive so will have been very carefully assembled, care taken to avoid water holding and rot etc, proper treatment used. Fence softwood is usually whatever crap is to hand, put through a sheep dip to lock the moisture in so you have to buy more in ten years.